JP2001306470A - Communication equipment, recording limiting method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication equipment with which the impossibility of mail reception owing to the shortage of a free space in a recording medium where mail information is preserved can be avoided when an E-mail is automatically printed. SOLUTION: In the communication equipment, it is judged whether the number of registered users is larger than an upper limit value 100 or not (S420). When the number of the registered users exceeds the upper limit value 100, an error is displayed in an operating part 115 (S421). When the number of the registered users is equal to or smaller than the upper limit value 100, a POP server name, a POP user name and a POP user password are inputted from the operating part 115 (S422, S423 and S424), and a value being one is added to the number of the registered users (S425).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication apparatus for transmitting / receiving an electronic mail and a file attached to the electronic mail, a recording restriction method, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of computers and networking of information, e-mail for transmitting and receiving character information over a network has become widespread. Various types of files can be attached to the e-mail in addition to the mail body which is character information. For example, as an attachment
TIFF (Tag Image File Format)
t) An Internet FAX that transmits and receives an image by attaching an image file has been proposed.

FIG. 16 shows the configuration of a conventional system for printing electronic mail information. Email
E-mail software that operates when sending and receiving e-mail is installed in the client 11a. After setting the mail server and the POP server, inputting the mail text and the transmission destination information (user name of the mail client 15a) and transmitting the mail, the mail server 1
2a for SMTP (Simple Mail Tr)
An e-mail is sent in accordance with an answer protocol.

[0004] Mail server 1 that received the e-mail
2a determines from the destination information that the transfer destination is the mail server 14a, and transfers the e-mail to the mail server 14a via the Internet network 13a. The mail server 14a that has received the electronic mail stores the received mail in the mailbox.

[0005] Similarly, e-mail software is also installed in the mail client 15a, and POP3 (Post Office Prism) is installed at regular time intervals.
It checks whether a new mail has not arrived in the mailbox of the POP server 14a in accordance with photocol-Version 3). If the mail has arrived, the mail is downloaded and the mail is opened to display the mail body created by the mail client 11a. And
When the user wants to print, the document and the attached file are printed by the printer 16a via the printer driver mounted on the mail client 15a.

[0006]

However, in the above-described conventional system, printing cannot be performed unless a user operates mail software installed in the mail client 15a.

[0007] On the other hand, a system for automatically printing without requiring user operation is also known, but such a system has the following problems. That is, each time the mail client saves the received mail, the mail client disk is consumed, and the free space gradually decreases. In particular, when the number of received mails is large or a large size mail is received, this phenomenon becomes remarkable. In the worst case, the mail may not be able to be received due to lack of free disk space. If such a state is left for a long time, Mai
It is expected that the mail transfer service of the Mail server as well as the one client will be stopped.

On the other hand, in a system in which a user's operation is involved, it is relatively easy to avoid this state by deleting unnecessary mail, but in a system in which no user's operation is involved. It was difficult to do.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a communication apparatus and a recording restriction method capable of preventing a situation in which an empty space of a recording medium for storing mail information is exhausted and a mail cannot be received when an electronic mail is automatically printed. And a storage medium.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising: an e-mail receiving unit for receiving an e-mail; and a user receiving the e-mail information. The system includes a recording unit that records on a recording medium for each account, a user account registration unit that registers a plurality of user accounts, and a registration restriction unit that restricts registration of the user accounts.

[0011] Further, when registration of the user account is restricted, it is preferable to provide a notifying means for notifying the user of the restriction.

Further, it is preferable that the registration restricting means restricts the registration of the user account when the number of the user accounts exceeds an upper limit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication apparatus, comprising: an acquiring unit for acquiring an e-mail from a mail server; a recording unit for recording the acquired e-mail information on a recording medium; and restricting the acquisition of the e-mail. Acquisition restriction means.

[0014] It is preferable that the obtaining means obtains the electronic mail in order from a new electronic mail.

Further, it is preferable that the apparatus further comprises limit value setting means for setting a limit value for restricting the acquisition of the electronic mail by the acquisition restricting means.

Preferably, the acquisition restricting means restricts the acquisition of the electronic mail when the total number of electronic mails stored in the mail server exceeds the set limit value.

According to the recording restriction method of the present invention, a receiving step of receiving an e-mail, a recording step of recording information of the received e-mail on a recording medium for each user account, and registering a plurality of user accounts And a restriction step of restricting the registration of the user account.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording restriction method comprising: an acquiring step of acquiring an electronic mail from a mail server; a recording step of recording information of the acquired electronic mail on a recording medium; And a restricting step.

A storage medium according to claim 10, wherein the storage medium stores a program to be executed by a computer that controls a communication device, wherein the program includes: a reception step of receiving the electronic mail; The method includes a recording step of recording mail information on a recording medium for each user account, a registration step of registering a plurality of user accounts, and a restriction step of restricting registration of the user accounts.

A storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the storage medium stores a program executed by a computer that controls a communication device, wherein the program obtains an electronic mail from a mail server;
A recording step of recording the acquired information of the e-mail on a recording medium; and a restriction step of restricting the acquisition of the e-mail.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a communication device, a recording restriction method, and a storage medium according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment. The communication device includes a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, and an image input / output control unit 3.

The reader section 1 reads an image of a document, and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to the printer section 2 and the image input / output control section 3. The printer unit 2 records an image corresponding to image data from the reader unit 1 and the image input / output control unit 3 on recording paper. The image input / output control unit 3 is a reader unit 1
And a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a network I / F unit (network interface unit) 7, a formatter unit 8, an image memory unit 9, and a core unit 10.

The facsimile unit 4 decompresses the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the decompressed image data to the core unit 10, compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10, and compresses the compressed image data. A circuit for transmitting data to a telephone line.

The file unit 5 is connected to a magneto-optical disk drive 6. The file unit 5 compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10, and transmits the compressed image data together with a keyword for searching the image data. Write to the magneto-optical disk set in. The file unit 5 searches compressed image data stored on the magneto-optical disk based on the keyword transferred via the core unit 10, reads out the searched compressed image data, and decompresses the read image data.
The decompressed image data is transferred to the core unit 10.

The network I / F unit 7 has an interface for connecting the image input / output control unit 3 to a network. This network is a mail server / PO
It is connected to a P server 12 and further to an Internet network 13 that spreads all over the world. Network I / F
A hard disk 7A is connected to the unit 7, and the hard disk 7A can store data received by mail. There are a plurality of mail servers such as a mail server 14 in the Internet network 13, and it is possible to send and receive e-mails with many people.

The formatter unit 8 has a network I / F
A circuit for developing code data representing an image transferred from a computer connected to the unit 7 into image data printable by the printer unit 2. The image memory unit 9 is a circuit for temporarily storing image data. The core unit 10 controls data exchange between blocks of the reader unit 1, facsimile unit 4, file unit 5, network I / F unit 7, formatter unit 8, and image memory unit 9.
Details of the core unit 10 will be described later.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2 which are image input / output devices of the communication apparatus. A document feeder 101 is mounted on the reader unit 1. The document feeder 101 feeds documents one by one on a platen glass 102 one by one from the last page. The document on the platen glass 102 is discharged.

When the original is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on and the scanner unit 104 is turned on.
Starts moving. The original is exposed and scanned by the movement of the scanner unit 104, and the reflected light from the original at the time of the exposure scanning is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter, referred to as a CCD) 109 via mirrors 105, 106 and 107 and a lens 108.

As described above, the image of the scanned original is CC
The image is read by D109, and the CCD 109 converts the optically read image into image data by photoelectric conversion and outputs the image data. The image data output from the CCD 109 is
After a predetermined process is performed, it is transferred to the printer unit 2 and the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 via a video bus (not shown).

The printer unit 2 inputs the image data output from the reader unit 1 to the laser driver 201. The laser driver 201 drives the laser light emitting unit based on the input image data. This laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 20
The photosensitive drum 202 is irradiated with the laser beam while being scanned, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202.

The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 202 is visualized as a developer image by the developer supplied from the developing device 203. Further, at a timing synchronized with the start of laser beam irradiation, a recording sheet is fed from one of the cassettes 204 and 205, and the recording sheet is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 202 and the transfer unit 206. The developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 202 is transferred onto a recording sheet fed by the transfer unit 206.

The recording paper onto which the developer image has been transferred is fixed to the fixing unit 20.
The fixing unit 207 fixes the developer image on the recording paper by heat-pressing the recording paper. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by discharge rollers 208,
The sorter 220 sorts the recording paper by storing the discharged recording paper in each bin. Note that the sorter 220 operates to store the recording paper in the uppermost bin when no sorting is set. If double-sided printing is set, the recording paper is conveyed to the position of the discharge roller 208, and then the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed.
09 is set to guide the sheet to the re-feeding conveyance path.

When the multiplex recording is set, the flapper 20 is set so that the recording paper is not conveyed to the discharge roller 208.
9 is switched so as to be guided to the re-feeding conveyance path. The recording paper guided to the re-feeding conveyance path is fed again between the photosensitive drum 202 and the transfer unit 206 at the above timing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reader unit 1. The image data output from the CCD 109 is analog digital (A / D) sample hold (SH)
While being converted from analog to digital by the unit 110,
Shading correction is performed on the converted digital data.

The image data processed by the A / D / SH unit 110 is sent to the printer unit 2 via the image processing unit 111.
Interface (I / F) unit 1
The data is transferred to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 via the control unit 13. The image processing unit 113 performs various image processing such as a trimming process, and the I / F unit 113 manages an interface with the core unit 10 such as taking in data including image data transferred from the core unit 10.

Image processing section 111 and I / F section 113
Is controlled by the CPU 114 in accordance with the contents set by the operation unit 115. For example, when a copy mode in which a copy is performed by performing a trimming process with the operation unit 115 is set, the CPU 114 executes the trimming process in the image processing unit 111 and outputs the trimmed image data to the printer unit 2. Control to transfer to.

When the facsimile transmission mode is set on the operation unit 115, the CPU 114 operates the I / F unit 1
The control unit 13 controls to transfer image data and a control command corresponding to the set mode to the core unit 10. The control by the CPU 114 is performed according to a control program stored in the memory 116. Memory 116
Is used as a work area of the CPU 114.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the core unit 10. As shown in FIG. The core unit 10 includes an I / F unit 122 with the reader unit 1.
And the image data transferred from the reader unit 1 is an I / F
The control command from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the image data processing unit 121 via the
3 is transferred. The image data processing unit 121 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing on the input image data as necessary, and the image data processed by the image data processing unit 121 is read by a reader. The facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, or the network I / F via the I / F unit 120 according to the control command transferred from the unit 1.
/ F unit 7.

The printer data representing the image input via the network I / F unit 7 is transferred to the image data processing unit 121 and then sent to the facsimile unit 4 or the I / F unit.
After being transferred to the F unit 122, the data is transferred to the printer unit 2, the file unit 5, or the network unit 7. File part 5
Output from the image data processing unit 121
Is transferred to the printer unit 2, facsimile unit 4 or network unit 7.

The CPU 123 controls the data transfer between the blocks according to the control program stored in the memory 124 and the control command transferred from the reader unit 1 and executes the image processing by the image data processing unit 121. Control. The memory 124 is a CPU
It is also used as a work area 123.

As described above, processing combining the functions of reading the original image, printing the image, transmitting and receiving the image, storing the image, and inputting / outputting data from / to the computer is performed mainly on the core unit 10. Is possible.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of the formatter unit 8. The formatter unit 8 includes a CPU 222, a font R
OM 223, program ROM 224, DRAM 22
5, a core interface (I / F) 221, an image processing circuit 226, a video I / F circuit 227, and a video clock 228.

For example, a PC (Mail) client 1
The data created by an application such as Word Processor 1 is a page description language (Page Description Language) that can be printed by a printer such as PS (PostScript (registered trademark)) by a printer driver.
ge (PDL)), the network I / F
The data is transferred to the formatter unit 8 via the unit 7, the core unit 10, and the core I / F unit 221.

When the transferred data is interpreted by the CPU 222, the font ROM 223, the DRAM 2
25 is used to generate image data. This image data is subjected to image processing by the image processing circuit 226, and the video data is synchronized with the synchronization signal generated by the video clock 228.
/ F circuit 227 to core unit 10. The transferred image data is printed by the printer unit 2.

The program ROM 224 stores a program for controlling such an operation. Thereby, PDL such as PS can be printed.
The formatter section 8 can be changed for each PDL, and the program ROM 224 is different for each PDL and its version, and the user can select the PDL and its version according to the purpose.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile unit 4. The facsimile unit 4 is an NCU (Network)
Control Unit) 230, MODEM (Mo
duplexer / DEModulator) 231, C
It has a PU 232, a program ROM 233, a resolution conversion circuit 234, a DRAM 235, an encoding / decoding circuit 236, an image processing circuit 237, a video I / F circuit 238, and a video clock 239.

The NCU 230 sends a facsimile (F
AX), which is a circuit for switching between telephone / fax, detecting a call signal upon reception, and holding a DC loop signal from the telephone exchange during a call. MODE
M231 converts an analog signal to a digital signal,
Conversely, it is a modulation / demodulation circuit that converts an analog signal into a digital signal.

Data transmitted from another FAX is NC
It is received by U230 and converted to a digital signal by MODEM 231. This data is MH, MR, MM
This is image data encoded by R, JBIG, or the like. This data is decoded by the encoding / decoding circuit 236, and the image data is expanded in the DRAM 235. The resolution conversion is performed on the image data by the resolution conversion 234, and the image processing circuit 237 performs image processing. Thereafter, the image data is transferred to the core unit 10 by the video I / F circuit 238 in synchronization with the clock generated by the video clock 239, and is printed by the printer unit 2.

At the time of transmission, the image data read by the reader unit 1 is expanded in the DRAM 235 by the video I / F circuit 238, the video clock 239, and the image processing circuit 237 via the core unit 10. For this data,
The resolution conversion is performed by the resolution conversion circuit 234, and encoded by the encoding / decoding circuit 236 into MH, MR, MMR, or JBIG. The encoded data is MO
The signal is converted into an analog signal by the DEM 231 and the NCU 230
Sent by

The CPU 232 controls such control, and the program ROM 233 stores a program for operating the CPU 232. The facsimile unit 4 is detachably mounted according to the user's purpose.

FIG. 7 shows a network I / F unit 7 of the communication device.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a program in FIG. The program in the network I / F unit 7 is an IP (Inter)
net Protocol) 250, TCP (Tran)
Smmission Control Protocol
l), UDP (User Datagram Prot)
ocol) 251 and a program for operating the protocol 252 of the application layer.

The IP 250 is a protocol layer of the Internet that provides a service of transmitting a message from an oscillation host to a destination host in cooperation with a relay node such as a router. The most important information for sending a message is the address of the caller and the recipient.
The destination address is managed by the IP 250. The routing of how the message is delivered to the destination host in the network according to the address information is performed by the IP250.

The TCP and UDP 251 are transport layers that provide a service for sending a message from a sending application process to a receiving application process. While TCP is a connection-type service and guarantees high reliability of communication, UDP is a connectionless service and does not guarantee reliability.

Application layer protocol 252
Defines a plurality of protocols, which include a file transfer service, FTP (File Tran).
sfer Protocol), SNMP which is a network management protocol, LPD which is a server protocol for printer printing, and WWW (World Wide Wed)
b) HTTPd which is a protocol of a server, and an e-mail transmission / reception protocol SMTP (Simple Mail)
Transfer Protocol), mail download protocol POP3 (Post Office)
Protocol-Version 3).

Hereinafter, an operation of receiving an e-mail and printing the received e-mail will be described. Mail client 1
5 has installed therein e-mail software for transmitting / receiving e-mail. When the user inputs a mail text and transmission destination information (the mail address of the mail client 11 or the mail address of the communication device) and sends the mail, the mail (SMTP) is sent to the mail server 14.
mple MailTransfer Protocol
Send an e-mail according to l).

Mail server 1 that received the e-mail
4 determines that the transfer destination is the Mail server 12 based on the destination information,
The e-mail is transferred to the server 12.

The e-mail is received by the mail server 14, and when the mail address is directly set in the communication device, the mail is delivered to the communication device using the SMTP protocol. When the mail address specifies a mailbox in the mail server 12, the received mail is stored in the mailbox.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for receiving and printing an electronic mail. This processing program is stored in the memory 124 in the core unit 10 and is executed by the CPU 123. When the mail is delivered by SMTP, as shown in FIG.
The operation of the P reception process starts, and data is acquired according to the SMTP protocol (step S309). The mail data received using the SMTP protocol is decoded from the mail transmission data into the original file format (step S310). The data is printed by the printer unit 2 by the print / transfer process or transferred to a transmission device such as the facsimile unit 4 (step S311). Thereafter, the process ends.

On the other hand, if the mail address is the mail server 1
The POP3 receiving process is started periodically to determine whether or not the mail has been specified to the mailbox within 2 and to determine whether the mail has arrived at this mailbox. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the operation of the POP3 reception process starts, the user logs in to the POP server 12 (step S302), and obtains mail list information stored in a mailbox in the POP server 12 (step S302). Step S303).

The list information from the previous login is compared with the list information from the current login, and it is determined whether or not there is a newly added mail (step S304).
If there is a new mail, mail data is obtained according to the POP3 protocol (step S305). on the other hand,
If there is no new mail, the POP3 receiving operation ends.

The data decoding process for decoding the mail data received using the POP3 protocol from the mail transmission data to the original file format is performed (step S3).
06), the data is printed by the printer unit 2 by the print / transfer process, or transferred to a transmission device such as the facsimile unit 4 (step S307). Thereafter, the process ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the data decoding processing procedure in steps S306 and S310. First, MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Ex
(Tensions) header processing (step S320).
When the header processing of MIME is performed, it is understood that the mail is written in Japanese. The Japanese text of the e-mail is JI
Since it is written in S code, the JIS code is converted into a printable SJIS code (step S
321).

Further, it is determined whether or not an attached file exists in the electronic mail (step S322). When an attached file exists, the presence or absence of the attached file can be determined because the presence of the attached file is described in the MIME header.

If it is determined in step S322 that the attached file exists in the e-mail, a file name such as “attached file: test.tif” is sent to inform the user that the attached file exists in the text of the mail body. Is added to the mail body text (step S323). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S322 that the attached file does not exist in the e-mail,
The process ends.

File information is described in the MIME header, and it is determined whether this information is a TIFF file (step S324). Attached file is TI
If it is not an FF file, the process ends. Meanwhile, TI
If the file is an FF file, a BASE64 decoding process is performed (step S325). The BASE64 decoding process is a process of converting 4-byte 6-bit data into 3-byte 8-bit data. Also, in the MIME header,
BASE64 is described. When the decoding of BASE64 ends, TIFF
A file is created (step S326), and the process ends.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a mail transmission processing procedure for receiving image data from a scanner together with a transmission destination and a text comment, and transmitting a mail as an attached file to a PC (Mail) client 15 or the like. This processing program is stored in the memory 124 in the core unit 10.
And when the transmission of the mail is selected, C
This is executed by the PU 123.

The destination of the mail and the data of the body of the mail are input from the operation unit 115 (step S35).
1) The original set on the platen glass 102 is scanned, and image data is read by the reader unit 1 (step S352).

The read image data is compressed in the MH format (step S353), and a TIFF file is created (step S354). Send destination, mail body data, mail header from attached TIFF file information, M
IME information is created (step S355), and the attached TI
The FF file is encoded by BASE64 (step S356) and transmitted according to the SMTP protocol (step S357). Thereafter, the process ends.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a mail management setting processing procedure for setting items necessary for the communication device when sending and receiving mail. This processing program is the core unit 1
0 is stored in the memory 124 and executed by the CPU 123.

When the mail management setting process starts, parameters are input from the operation unit 115, and an IP address, a net mask, and a default gateway are set (steps S371, S372, and S373). These parameters apply to all network software modules, not just the mail management configuration processing module.

The mail server is set (step S37)
4), check the mail server (step S37)
5). In this mail server check, a connection is attempted to the actually set mail server, and it is determined whether or not the connection has been established. This will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. As a result of the check, it is determined whether or not it is OK (step S376). If an error occurs and, for example, the input server name is incorrect, a warning is displayed on the operation unit 115 (step S377). By performing a warning display, the user is informed that the input name cannot be used at present.

On the other hand, if the result of the check in step S376 is OK, the mail server is registered (step S378). Note that, even if an error occurs, the mail server may be prepared later, so the mail server is registered after displaying a warning message. After registration,
When a mail server is prepared, transmission and reception of mail are performed.

Then, setting parameters relating to the POP account input are input from the operation unit 115, and the POP server is checked with the input parameters (step S380). In this check of the POP server, a connection to the POP server is attempted using the actually set parameters, and it is determined whether or not the connection has been established. This will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. As a result of the check, it is determined whether or not it is OK (step S38).
1) If OK, register a POP account (step S383). On the other hand, if an error occurs,
A warning is displayed (step S382). Even if an error occurs, the POP server and the POP account may be prepared later. Therefore, after displaying the warning message, the POP account is registered in step S383. After the registration, when the POP server and the POP account are prepared, the POP reception of the mail is performed.

After completing the POP account registration, the operation unit 11
Enter the maximum number of mails that can be handled from Step 5 (Step S38)
4), end the mail management setting process. Step S38
The maximum number of mails that can be handled in step 4 is the maximum number of mails when downloading mail from a POP server according to the POP3 protocol. Thereafter, the process ends.

As described above, the mail server or the POP
If the user inputs incorrect server information to the server, it can be corrected by immediately discovering and re-performing the mail management setting process.

FIG. 12 shows a step S30 when POP3 is received.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a list information acquisition processing procedure in the third embodiment. First, make a connection to the POP server,
The user name and password are notified according to the POP3 protocol, and the user logs in to the POP server (step S40).
0), a POP3 list command is issued (step S401). The POP3 list command is a command for assigning a unique ID to each and every mail existing in the mailbox, listing the unique ID numbers in order from the oldest mail, and responding. Then, this unique ID number list (UID
L) is obtained (step S402).

Then, the total number of mails existing in the mailbox is substituted for the variable I, and “−1” is substituted for the variable J. The total number of e-mails will be P
This is used because it is notified from the OP server. Variable I
Is subtracted from the variable 1 and the value 1 is added to the variable J (step S4).
04). At this time, the variable I is “the total number of mails−1”, and the variable J is the value 0.

It is determined whether or not the variable I is less than 0 (step S405). If it is greater than 0, it is determined whether or not the variable J exceeds the maximum number of mails that can be handled in step S384 of FIG. (Step S406).
If the variable J does not exceed the maximum number of mails, the array TAB
The I-th value of the list (UIDL) is substituted for the J-th LE (step S407).

POP3 is sent to the UIDL [I] mail.
A top command of the command is issued to obtain only the head information of the mail (step S408), and the Subject information, the From address (the address of the mail sender), the transmission date, and the transmission time are obtained.
The mail information of UIDL [I] is substituted into the array MAIL_LIST [J] and stored in the hard disk 7A. Here, not all the mail information is acquired and stored, so that the acquisition time is reduced and the capacity of the hard disk 7A is reduced.

At this time, since the value of the variable J is “0” and the value of the variable I is “the total number of mails−1”, TABLE [0]
To UIDL [total number of emails-1] (last unique ID)
And the latest mail information is substituted for MAIL_LIST [0], and the process returns to step S404.

When this process is repeated, TABLE [1]
Are assigned to the second unique ID, the third unique ID to TABLE [2], the fourth unique ID to TABLE [3], and so on.

MAIL_LIST [1] contains the information of the newest mail, and MAIL_LIST [2] contains the information of the new mail.
Third new mail information, MAIL_LIST [3]
, The fourth new mail information,...

If the total number of mails is smaller than the maximum number of mails that can be handled, YES is determined in step S405 before the determination in step S406 is YES, and the process is terminated. As a result, in the array TABLE, the unique IDs of all the mails existing in the mailbox are registered in order from the unique ID of the new mail, and the array MAIL_LIS
In T, information of all the mails (Subject information,
From address, transmission date, transmission time) are registered.

If the total number of mails is larger than the maximum number of mails that can be handled, YES is determined in step S406 before the determination is YES in step S405, and the process ends. As a result, unique IDs from the new mail existing in the mailbox to the number of mails that can be handled are registered in the array TABLE in order from the unique ID of the new mail, and the number of mails that can be handled in order from the information of the new mail in the array MAIL_LIST. Mail to (Subject
Information, From address, transmission date, transmission time) are registered. By limiting the maximum number of mails that can be handled in this way, the used capacity of the hard disk 7A can be reduced.

Array TABLE, Array MAIL_LIST
Is stored in the hard disk 7A, and is used for displaying a list of the mails existing in the mailbox, and selecting and printing the mails from the list.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a POP account input processing procedure in step S379 of the mail management setting processing in FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the number of registered users is larger than the upper limit 100 (step S42).
0). For the number of registered users, a value 0 is set as an initial value.

If the number of registered users exceeds the upper limit 100, an error is displayed on the operation unit 115 (step S42).
1), end the process. On the other hand, the number of registered users is the upper limit 1
If it is not more than 00, the POP server name, the POP user name, and the POP user password are input from the operation unit 115 (steps S422, S423, and S424). Then, the value 1 is added to the number of registered users (step S425),
The process ends.

As described with reference to FIG.
Since the BLE and the array MAIL_LIST are prepared for each POP account, an increase in the number of POP accounts by one corresponds to the array TABLE and the array MAIL_LIST.
Is increased by one.

As described above, by limiting the number of POP users to a predetermined value (in the present embodiment, the upper limit value 100) or less, it is possible to prevent the area of the disk for recording the array TABLE and the array MAIL_LIST from increasing indefinitely.
The required disk capacity is (array TABLE + array M
(AIL_LIST) × 100, it is possible to secure this area in advance. Also, by securing this area in advance, it is possible to prevent an error due to insufficient disk capacity when acquiring mail information.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the operation of the mail server check process in step S375 of FIG. For example, when an SMTP connection request is issued from the network I / F unit 7 to the mail server 12 (440), the mail server 12 returns a character string starting with "220" (44).
1). When a character string starting with “HELO” is transmitted from the network I / F unit 7 (442), the mail server 12
Returns a character string starting with "250" (443). At this time, it does not return a character string starting with "250",
If there is no reply after waiting for a predetermined time, it is regarded as an error. When the mail server 12 returns a character string starting with “250”, it is considered that the mail server is operating normally, and “QUIT” is transmitted to the mail server (444).
Terminate the connection with the mail server.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the operation of the POP server check processing in step S380 of FIG. P from the network I / F unit 7 to the POP server 12
When a connection request for OP3 is issued (460), the POP server 1
2 returns a character string starting from "+ OK" (461). At this time, if a character string other than "+ OK" is returned or no response is returned after waiting for a predetermined time, it is regarded as an error.

[0092] From the network I / F unit 7, "USER
When transmitting a character string starting with "abc (abc is the POP user name input in step S423 in FIG. 13)" (462), the POP server 12 returns a character string starting with "+ OK" (463). If a character string other than "+ OK" is returned or no response is returned after waiting for a predetermined time, it is regarded as an error.

From the network I / F 7, “PASS
When transmitting a character string starting with "xyz (xyz is the POP user password input in step S424 in FIG. 13)" (464), the POP server 12 returns a character string starting with "+ OK" (465). If a character string other than + OK is returned or no response is returned after waiting for a predetermined time, it is regarded as an error. When “+ OK” is normally returned, “QUIT” is transmitted from the network I / F unit 7 (466),
The connection with the POP server 12 is terminated.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments, but has the functions indicated in the claims or the configurations of the embodiments. Any configuration that can achieve the function is applicable.

For example, in the above embodiment, the description has been made using TCP / IP as the communication protocol of the network.
The same effect can be obtained by using a communication protocol such as IPX / SPX or Apple Talk.

Also, BAS is used as a mail decoding method.
Although E64 was used, uuencode, BinHex, etc. may be used. Furthermore, the description has been given of printing a TIFF file, but JPEG, GIF, JICT,
The image file format such as P and the image compression format are M
Not limited to H, but may be MR, MMR, JBIG, RLE.

Further, when the POP account is input, the number of registered users is limited to an upper limit of 100.
Alternatively, it may be variable in the mail management setting process or the like.

Although the hard disk 7A is used as the information recording device, the same effect can be obtained with a recording device such as a semiconductor memory or an optical disk.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), or may be applied to an apparatus including one device. .

The present invention can also be applied to a case where the present invention can be achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus using a recording medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. Nor. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program constitutes the present invention.

In the above embodiment, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG.
The program code shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.
Etc. are stored in memory. The storage medium for supplying the program code is not limited to the ROM. For example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DV
D, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or the like can be used.

[0102]

According to the present invention, for example, when a mail is acquired from a mailbox existing on a POP server using a plurality of mail accounts, mail information is stored by setting an upper limit at the time of user registration. It is possible to suppress an infinite increase in the capacity of the recording medium to be used. Further, since the consumption capacity of the recording medium can be suppressed, it is possible to prevent the operation of the communication device from being stopped due to the shortage of the capacity of the recording medium and the entire mail system from being stopped. Further, by setting the upper limit at the time of user registration, an area can be secured in advance, and it is possible to prevent the capacity of the recording medium from being lost during reception and preventing reception. Further, an error can be notified to a user who attempts to register the number of users exceeding the upper limit at the time of user registration.

Further, according to the present invention, for example, when acquiring mail from a mailbox existing on a POP server, an upper limit value of the number of mails to be read is set, so that the capacity of a recording medium for recording mail information is infinite. Can be suppressed. In addition, since the consumption capacity of the recording medium can be suppressed, it is possible to prevent the operation stop of the image forming apparatus and the stop of the entire mail system due to the shortage of the capacity of the recording medium. Furthermore, since information is handled in order from new mail, it is possible to prevent a newly sent mail from becoming unhandled. Further, since the setting of the upper limit value is made variable, it can be changed according to the state used by the user.

As described above, in the case where e-mail is automatically printed, it is possible to prevent a case where the free space of the recording medium for storing the mail information is exhausted and the mail cannot be received.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a reader unit 1 and a printer unit 2 which are image input / output devices of the communication apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a reader unit 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a core unit 10;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a formatter unit 8;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile unit 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a program in a network I / F unit 7 of the communication device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for receiving an e-mail and performing printing.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a data decoding processing procedure in steps S306 and S310.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of Ma which takes in image data from a scanner together with a transmission destination and a text comment, and transmits an e-mail as an attached file to a PC (Mail) client 15
It is a flowchart which shows an il transmission processing procedure.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a mail management setting processing procedure for setting items necessary for a communication device when sending and receiving mail.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a list information acquisition processing procedure in step S303 when receiving POP3.

13 is a step S3 of the mail management setting process of FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows the POP account input processing procedure in 79.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a mail server check process in step S375 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a POP server check process in step S380 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional system for printing electronic mail information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Image Input / Output Control Unit 7 Network I / F Unit 7A Hard Disk 10 Core Unit 11, 15 Client 12, 14 Server 13 Internet Network 123 CPU 124 Memory

Claims (11)

[Claims] An e-mail receiving means for receiving an e-mail; a recording means for recording information of the received e-mail on a recording medium for each user account; a user account registration means for registering a plurality of user accounts; A communication device comprising: a registration restriction unit configured to restrict registration of the user account. 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit for notifying that the registration of the user account is restricted. 3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said registration restricting means restricts registration of said user account when the number of said user accounts exceeds an upper limit. 4. A communication comprising: an acquiring unit for acquiring an e-mail from a mail server; a recording unit for recording information of the acquired e-mail on a recording medium; and an acquisition restricting unit for restricting the acquisition of the e-mail. apparatus. 5. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said obtaining means obtains the electronic mail in order from a new electronic mail. 6. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising limit value setting means for setting a limit value for restricting the acquisition of the electronic mail by the acquisition restriction means. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the acquisition restricting unit restricts the acquisition of the e-mail when the total number of e-mails stored in the mail server exceeds the set limit value. Communication device. 8. A receiving step of receiving an e-mail, a recording step of recording information of the received e-mail on a recording medium for each user account, a registration step of registering a plurality of user accounts, A recording restriction method having a restriction step of restricting registration. 9. A recording restriction method, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring an e-mail from a mail server; a recording step of recording information of the acquired e-mail on a recording medium; and a restriction step of restricting the acquisition of the e-mail. . 10. A storage medium storing a program to be executed by a computer that controls a communication device, the program comprising: a receiving step of receiving the electronic mail; and information of the received electronic mail for each user account. A storage medium comprising: a recording step of recording on a recording medium; a registration step of registering a plurality of user accounts; and a restriction step of restricting the registration of the user account. 11. A storage medium storing a program executed by a computer that controls a communication device, the program comprising: an obtaining step of obtaining an e-mail from a mail server; and a recording medium for storing information of the obtained e-mail. A recording medium, comprising: a recording step of recording the e-mail; and a restriction step of restricting the acquisition of the e-mail.